Electric switch



(No Model.)

R. S. KELSGH. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented Oct. 9, 1894.

cams persas co.. vHcn'cvL Tuo WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE..

EAYMONDSs. KELsOH, or OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,177, dated October 9, 1894. y Application filed May 28, 1894:. Serial No. 512,768. (No model.)

/o @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND S. KELsOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented anew and useful Improvementin Electric Switches, of which thefollowing is avspecification.

My invention relates to improvements inv switches Orl cut-outs for electric circuits generally. f

My object is to provide an improved electric switch or cut-out which shall be of a simple and durable construction, easy of manipulation, and produce when operated such gradual making and breaking of the circuit, or cutting in or out of a loop or branch circuit as to obviate all danger of dashing or sparking between the contacts and render the cutout action positive and absolute. While, as stated, my invention is intended for general use wherever cut-Outs are employed, it is especially desirable for series systems of arclighting. Y

In the drawings, I show my invention applied tothe supporting plate or hanger-board of an electric arc-lamp for cutting the lamp into and'out of the circuit.

Figure l is a plan View of the hanger-board with my improvements inv their preferred form; Fig. 2, a section taken on line 2 of Fig. l, and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Figs. 3 and 4., enlarged broken sections on line 3 of Fig. 2, and showing the switch in its two positions; and Fig. 5, an enlarged section on line 5 of Fig. 1.

A is a support or hanger-board base, preferably of stone, marble, slate Or other nonconductive and incornbustible material, provided with screw-holes t at which to fasten it in place.

B, C, and D,E, are metal conductors, formed at one end-with binding-posts B C D and E respectively, and at'their opposite ends with contacts inthe form of tube-sections B2 C2 D2 and E2 respectively. The conductors are preferably of the form shown, with flat sides to bear against the base A, the conductorsB and C being of the same length and longer than the conductors D and E which are also of the same length. i The conductors are so placed that their tube-sections are in a central transverse line across the base, and

straight line.

F is a sliding switch-rod, comprising a cylindrical body-portion q provided with a knob or handle q', and two conducting surfaces or contacts preferably in the form of split ferrules q2 and g3. The body-portion and handle of the switch-rod are of insulating material, preferablyhard rubber, and the ferrules are of metal, preferably spring-brass or bronze. The ferrules are separated from each other by a space p, and are secured in vplace by means of pins or screws passing through openings in the ferrules and into the The body-portion q; their heads extending flush with the surfaces ofthe ferrules. The tendency of the ferrules is to open, as shown in Fig. 5, and the tube-section openingsare lust large enough to admit the rod F when the split edges of the ferrules are pressed toward each other and against the body-portion q.

The rod F extends through the openings of the contacts of all the conductors, and is provided with stops n and n', which limit the movement of the switch-rod by impinging respectively against the tube-sections D2 and E2. ,The break or space p between ferrules, is about equal to or slightly less in extent than the distance between the contact B2, and the contacts C2 E2; and the ferrules are of a length approximating the distance through the contacts B2 C2, and C2 D2. F is moved to the position shown in Figs. l and '4., the ferrule q2 engages the contacts E2 B2, the ferrule q2 engages the contacts C2 D2, and the break 1o extends between the contacts B202. When the rod F is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, the ferrule q2 engages only the contact E2, the break p extends between the contacts E2k B2, the ferrule q2 is out of engagement with the contact D2, and engages the contacts B2 C2.

In practice the electric line-wires are fas- When the rod ICO When the switch-rod F is in the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the stop n engages the contact D2, the lamp is cut out, and the current from the line-wire, at the bindingpost B', Will pass through the conductor B, ferrule q2, and conductor C to the line-wire at C. Movement of the switch-rod to the position shown in Figs. l and 4, wherein the stop a engages the contact E2, switches the lamp into circuit, the current passing through the conductor B, ferrule g3, and conductor E to the lamp; and from the lamp through the conductor D, ferrule g2 and conductor C. In the movement of the rod to switch in the lamp or cut it out there is a period during which the break p is in the tubular-section B2 and the latter contacts with both ferrules. During this period the current may pass both by the direct route, through the conductors B, C, and through the lamp. Thus, for example, in the movement of the switch-rod to switch in the lamp, as the area of contact of the ferrule q2 with the conductor B decreases, increasing the resistance between the conductors B, C, the areas of the contacts between the ferrule Q3 and conductor B and ferrule q2 and conductor D, increases, so that before the break p passes the contact B2 the current is divided passing through both the shorter and the longer circuits, and gradually increases through the longer circuit as it diminishes through the shorter, so that when the final cutting off of the current through the shorter circuit takes place, all danger of the formation of an arc between the contacts q2 B2., is obviated and no dashing or sparking will occur. The cutting-out of the lamp is brought about in the same gradual manner, in the passage of the break p th rough the contact B2, and there will be no danger of the formation of an arc, as the contact q2 approaches the contact B2.

The friction, due to the pressure of the splitferrules againsttheinnersurfaces ofthe tubular sections, while not sufficient to make sliding of the switch-rod diiiicult, will hold the rod with desired firmness in either adjusted position.

In the space or break p between the contacts q2 q2 I prefer to provide a thin covering p of mica or other non-conducting and incombustible material about the rubber body-portion q. While under all ordinary circumstances such a covering would be unnecessary, there is a possibility,in the event of the lamp being defective and offering undue resistance to the passage of the current, that an arc may form, in the movement ofthe switch-rod, and burn or char the rubber body-portion at the break, thereby lessening the non-conductive properties of the rubber at that point. The mica or like covering p will prevent the arc from doing any injury to the switch-rod.

The switch-rod may be of any'other desired form in cross-section than that shown, and the sleeve or ferrules and contact tube-sections made to correspond. Thus the rods may be triangular, square or of any other suitable form, and the ferrules and contacts shaped accordingly. It is not necessary that the ferrules should completely surround the rod or that the tube-sections should be closed. It is desirable however to have the contacts envelop the rod sufficiently to hold it in place.

Vhile I prefer to construct my improvements throughout as shown and described, they may be modified in the matter of details without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims; and when employed in other connections than as a cutout for arc-lamps, any changes desirable to adapt the invention to the lparticular connection will readily suggest themselves.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric-switch or cut-out, a pair of main-line contacts and a pair of loop-line contacts, the members constituting one said pair being adjacent to each other and intermediate of the other said pair, and a sliding switchbar provided with longitudinally extending `conducting surfaces separated from each other by an insulating space, the bar being mounted to move between positions, whereln it extends at its insulating space at opposlte sides of one of the said intermediate contacts, 2 whereby in one position it engages with one of its conducting surfaces the two intermediate contacts, and in the other position each of its conducting surfaces engages an intermediate and an outer contact, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric-switch or cut-out, the combination of a support, a pair of loop-line conductors, and a pair of main-line conductors, secured to the support, the members constituting one of said pairs being adjacent to each other and intermediate of the other said pair, and all the conductors presen ting contact openings inline with each other, and a switchbar extending through said openings, having conducting surfaces separated by an insulating space, the bar being movable in the said openings, to operate substantially as described.

3. In an electric-switch or cut-out, the combination of a support, a pair of conductors terminating in contact tube-sections D2 and E2, a pair of conductors terminating in contact tube-sections B2 and C2 intermediate of and in line with the contacts D2 E2, one said pair being loop-line conductors and the other said pair main-line conductors, and a switchbar F extending through said tube-sections, having conducting surfaces q2 Q3 separated by an insulating space p, the bar being movable in the said tube-sections, to operate substantially as described.

4. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combination with the support, of loop contact IIO tube-sections, main line contact -tube sections intermediate of the said loop contacts, and a sliding switch-bar movablefin the said tube-sections and having conductor surfaces, separated by an insulating space, and fitting the said tube-sections, the bar being movable inthe tube-section contacts between positions Y wherein it extends at its insulatingspace at vas described.

opposite sides of one of the said main-line contacts, whereby in one position it engages with one of its conducting surfaces the two main-line contacts, and'in the other position each of its conducting surfaces engages a lmain-line and a loop contact, substantially as described.

5. In an electric switch or cut-out, the combinationof a support, loop-line conductors D and E, and main-line conductors B and C, secured to the lsupport, the main-line conductors being intermediate of the loop ccnductors, all the conductors presenting contact openings in line with each other, and a switch-bar F extending through said openings,v having conducting surfaces q2 q2 separated by an insulating space, p, the bar being movable in the said openings, to operate substantially as described.

6. In an electric-switch or cut-out, the combination of' a support, loop-line conductors terminating in Contact tube-sections D2 and E2, main-lineconductors terminating in contact tube-sections B2 and C2 intermediate of and in line with thecontacts D2 E2, and a switch-bar F extending through said contacts and provided with ferrules q2 g2, affording conductors fitting the contacts, and separated by an insulating space p, the bar being movable in said contacts, to operate substantially 7. In an electric-switch or cut-out, the combination of a support, a pair of conductors,

bar F, extending through said contacts, and comprising a body portion q of insulating material, split-spring contact ferrules q2 and q2 of conducting material on the body portion, and separated by an insulating space p, and stops on the switch-bar, the bar being movable in said contacts a distance limited by engagement of the said stops with stops on the support, to operate substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electric-switch or cut-out, the conibination of a support, a pair of conductors terminating in contact tube-sections D2 and E2, one said pair being loop -line and the other said pair being main-line conductors a pair of conductors terminating in contact tube-sections B2 and O2 intermediate of and in line with the contacts D2 E2, and a switchbar F extending through said contacts and provided with ferrules q2 q2, affording conductors fitting the contacts, and separated by an insulating space p, provided with a covering p' of incombustible and non-conducting material, the bar being movable in said contacts, to operate substantially as described.

9. A cut-out for electric circuits comprising, in combination, a support,a pair of binding-posts D E communicating with contact tube-sections D2 E2, a pair of binding-posts B C', communicating with contact tube-sections B2C2, the contacts B2 C2 being intermediate of and in line with the contacts D2 E2, and a sliding switch-bar F, extending through said contacts, comprising a body-portion q of vRAYMOND S. AKELSOI-I.

In presence of- M. J. FROST, J. N. HANsoN. 

